Understand the ratings and numbers

Once the season opens, we provide weekly updates for each category on the rounds of invitations page. This information tells you your chances to get an invitation to apply.

Understand the ratings

We give each category one of five possible ratings. The ratings are based on your chances of getting an invitation in the next round:

• Excellent = 80% - 99% chance
• Very good = 60% - 79% chance
• Fair = 40% - 59% chance
• Low = 20% - 39% chance
• Very low  = 1% - 19% chance

The rating is affected by many factors, such as how many candidates

• accept their invitations,
• decline their invitations,
• haven’t responded to their invitation,
• let their invitation expire, or
• withdraw their profiles.

Young Professionals and International Co-op Internship candidates

There are often more spots than candidates in the Young Professionals and International Co-op (Internship) categories. You’ll usually receive an invitation.

Working Holiday candidates

The Working Holiday category is very popular. This means there are usually more candidates than spots available.

We randomly select Working Holiday candidates from the pool and invite them to apply. All candidates in the pool have an equal chance of being invited.

There’s a chance you won’t get an invitation before the end of the season.

Understand the numbers

Quota

“Quota” is how many work permits we can issue through the International Experience Canada (IEC) program this season. Each country and category have their own quotas.

Each year, we decide the quota with partner countries. We can’t announce the quota until both countries agree. We announce the quota before each country’s first round of invitations.

Invitations issued

“Invitations issued” are how many invitations to apply were sent to candidates.

This number may be higher than the quota, because some candidates:

• decline invitations,
• withdraw their work permit applications, or
• submit a work permit application that is refused.

Candidates in the pool

“Candidates in the pool” is how many eligible candidates are currently in the pool.

It doesn’t include candidates who:

• haven’t responded to an invitation to apply,
• started their work permit applications, or
• have an approved work permit application.

Spots available

“Spots available” is how many port-of-entry (POE) letters of introduction (LOI) we can issue before we meet the quota. We issue a LOI when an officer approves a work permit application.

We use many factors for the spots available, including:

• how many LOIs we’ve issued,
• how many applications we expect to get after each round of invitations, and
• how many applications will be approved.

If you got or accepted an invitation to apply, there is a spot for you.

At the beginning of the IEC season, it may take time for this number to change. This is because it takes time to process applications. Learn more about processing times.